New Cesar Chavez seeks Arizona office

Name recognition might play a part in a candidate’s success, but what to do if your name doesn’t resonate with voters? One candidate on the ballot in Arizona has resorted to taking someone else’s: The late-activist Cesar Chavez.

“It’s almost as simple as saying Elvis Presley is running for president,” Cesar Chavez, a congressional candidate whose previous name was Scott Fistler, told the Arizona Republic in an interview published Monday. “You wouldn’t forget it, would you?”

Chavez, who is running in the Democratic primary for the congressional seat that will be vacated by retiring lawmaker Rep. Ed Pastor, filed a name-change petition to become Chavez with Maricopa County Superior court in November 2013 following a series of unsuccessful political bids, the paper reported.

The paper added, however, that Chavez would not confirm that he changed his name.

“I feel right in everything I do. I never broke the law,” Chavez said.

But his name isn’t the only thing Chavez has leaned on. The paper reported that Chavez plagiarized an answer to its policy questionnaire and used copyrighted photos on his website. Chavez told the paper the fact that the name is on many buildings in the district — in honor of the labor activist — will be a benefit.